<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><base href="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?printable&dte=2008-03-31">
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<title>Stand-To!</title>
<script language="JavaScript" type="text/JavaScript">
<!--
function MM_jumpMenu(targ,selObj,restore){ //v3.0
eval(targ+".location='"+selObj.options[selObj.selectedIndex].value+"'");
if (restore) selObj.selectedIndex=0;
}
//-->
</script>
<link href="standto/printstyle.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><base href="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?printable&dte=2008-03-31"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div>
<a href="http://www.army.mil"><div id="home"></div></a>
<a href="http://www.army.mil/standto/"><div id="standTo"></div></a>
<div id="container">
<div id="myForm">
<form name="frmArchive" id="frmArchive"><select name="menu1" onchange="MM_jumpMenu('parent',this,0)">
<option value="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2008-03-31" selected="selected">Mon, March 31, 2008</option><option value="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2008-03-28">Fri, March 28, 2008</option><option value="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2008-03-27">Thu, March 27, 2008</option><option value="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2008-03-26">Wed, March 26, 2008</option><option value="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2008-03-25">Tue, March 25, 2008</option><option value="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2008-03-24">Mon, March 24, 2008</option><option value="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2008-03-21">Fri, March 21, 2008</option><option value="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2008-03-20">Thu, March 20, 2008</option><option value="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2008-03-19">Wed, March 19, 2008</option><option value="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2008-03-18">Tue, March 18, 2008</option><option value="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2008-03-17">Mon, March 17, 2008</option></select></form>
</div>
<img src="standto/printheader.gif" alt="Stand-To!"><div id="date">Edition: Mon, March 31, 2008<br><a href="standto.php?dte=2008-03-31">Rich-text Version</a></div><div class="column"><h2>WHAT THEY'RE SAYING</h2><p>“It’s critical for us to share our knowledge and information with younger employees. Mentoring is not about race or gender. There’s an obligation on all of us to help those coming up as we interface with them. Whether it’s a letter of recommendation, sound advice or steering them to the right college, profession, etc., it’s the right thing to do. Here in 2008, I try not to look at color. I can’t avoid it, but it doesn’t determine if I help you or not. I’ll help anyone. That’s how it’s always been. You help everyone you can. You can’t be an advocate of hate.”<br>
<br>
Phil Hunter, an attorney for the U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command's office of Chief Counsel<br>
<br>
<b><a href="http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/03/24/8090-army-attorney-remembers-civil-rights-revolution/" target="_blank">Army attorney remembers civil rights revolution</a></b></p><h2>TODAY'S FOCUS</h2><p><b>Officer retention</b><br>
<br>
<b>What is it?</b><br>
<br>
Officer retention has received renewed interest with the continuous requirements of the global war on terrorism combined with the significant force structure growth as we transform to a modular force. The Army will add more than 8,300 basic-branch commissioned officer positions by FY10, with more than 4,500 of those positions at the grades of captain and major. While the overall company-grade loss rates are not alarming, the Army is being proactive and is working several initiatives to retain more of our best and brightest officers.<br>
<br>
<b>What has the Army done?</b><br>
<br>
The Army implemented a pre-commissioning program in FY06, allowing cadets to select a branch, post, or graduate school for an additional service obligation of three years. This program proved successful in just one year; 1,100 participated in FY06 and 1,600 in FY07. The Army expects this program to reduce loss rates among U.S. Military Academy (USMA) and ROTC scholarship commissioned officers beginning in FY10 when these officers will have completed their normal active-duty service obligation (five years for USMA and four for ROTC officers).<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
To continue reading this topic in its entirety, <b><a href="http://www.army.mil/aps/08/information_papers/sustain/Officer_Retention.html" target="_blank">click here.</a></b><br>
<br>
<br>
Information Papers with <b>"<a href="http://www.army.mil/aps/08/information_papers/information_papers.html" target="_blank"> 2008 Army Posture Statement</a>"</b><br>
</p><h2>INFORMATION YOU CAN USE</h2><p>• <a href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/409993"> 2008 Strategic Communication Guide </a> - Read the 2008 Army Strategic Communication Guide for key messages and updates<br>
<br>
• <a href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/303879"> Strategic Communication Coordination Group (SCCG) Workspace </a><br>
<br>
• <a href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/216363"> Army Public Affairs Portal </a><br>
<br>
• <a href="http://www.army.mil/valor"> Stories of Valor </a></p><h2>WEEKEND SPORTS WRAP-UP</h2><p><a href="http://www.goarmy.com/racing/nascar_news_article.jsp?pr=pr20080325" target="_blank">Almirola keeps wave of momentum in check</a><br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.goarmysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=11100&ATCLID=1424810" target="_blank">Bucknell sweeps Army in baseball</a><br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.goarmysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=11100&ATCLID=1424707" target="_blank">Hanlon 19th; Army finishes sixth</a><br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.goarmysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=11100&ATCLID=1424724" target="_blank">Army threatens but Lehigh sweeps Sunday's Twinbill</a><br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.goarmysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=11100&ATCLID=1424001" target="_blank">Women win 10 events at Dick Shea invite</a><br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.goarmysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=11100&ATCLID=1423847" target="_blank">Women's tennis blanks St. Bonaventure, 7-0</a><br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.goarmysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=11100&ATCLID=1423966" target="_blank">Black Knights tied for fifth after round one</a></p></div><div class="column"><h2>NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY</h2><p></p><ul><li><b>Army Gen. Martin Dempsey</b> to become Central Command chief (<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,342593,00.html" target="_blank">Fox</a>)</li><li><b>MRAP kits</b> completed in record time (<a href="http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/03/28/8201-mrap-kits-completed-in-record-time/" target="_blank">ARNews</a>)</li><li><b>Students graduate</b> from first WTB BNCOC at Walter Reed (<a href="http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/03/28/8205-students-graduate-from-first-wtb-bncoc-at-walter-reed/" target="_blank">ARNews</a>)</li><li><b>Civil War veteran</b> to be honored (<a href="http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/03/29/news/local_news/newsstory2.txt" target="_blank">CCT</a>)</li><li><b>Stryker Soldier</b> writes new chapter in Family history (<a href="http://newsblaze.com/story/20080330172239tsop.nb/newsblaze/IRAQ0001/Iraq.html" target="_blank">NB</a>)</li><li><b>After 4-year effort</b> to elevate award, Elliott gets Soldier’s medal (<a href="http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=53721" target="_blank">S&S</a>)</li></ul><p></p><h2>WAR ON TERROR NEWS</h2><p></p><ul><li><b>Remains ID'd</b> as missing Ohio Soldier's (<a href="http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=4553871" target="_blank">ABC</a>)</li><li><b>Playing by new rules</b> of war (<a href="http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080330/NEWS10/803300392" target="_blank">IS</a>)</li><li><b>Opinion:</b> Fighting the war on terror in the Caribbean and Central America (<a href="http://blog.washingtonpost.com/earlywarning/2008/03/fighting_the_war_on_terror_in.html?nav=rss_blog" target="_blank">WP</a>)</li><li><b>Sadr tells his militia</b> to cease hostilities (<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/30/AR2008033000261.html" target="_blank">WP</a>)</li><li><b>Apache pilots</b> see new tactics from insurgents (<a href="http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61038&archive=true" target="_blank">S&S</a>)</li></ul><p></p><h2>OF INTEREST</h2><p></p><ul><li><b>L-3 awarded $36 million contract</b> by U.S. Army (<a href="http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/industries/industrials/article/l3-awarded-36-million-contract-army_538018_6.html" target="_blank">Fox Bus</a>)</li><li><b>Opinion:</b> Rapists in the ranks (<a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-harman31mar31,0,2627231.story" target="_blank">LAT</a>)</li><li><b>Movie: 'Stop-Loss'</b>: Portrait of raw Army life (<a href="http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/404691" target="_blank">TS</a>)</li><li><b>Wife is charged with murder</b> for fatally shooting husband near Devils Elbow (<a href="http://www.ky3.com/news/local/17058046.html" target="_blank">KY3</a>)</li></ul><p></p><h2>WORLD VIEW</h2><p></p><ul><li><b>NATO faces toughest test</b> since Cold War as Afghanistan troubles deepen (<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk" target="_blank">TEL</a> | <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/31/wafghan131.xml" target="_blank">Story</a>)</li><li><b>Russia is no enemy of the West,</b> but Vladimir Putin is (<a href="http://www.dailystar.com.lb/" target="_blank">DSL</a> | <a href="http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=90417" target="_blank">Story</a>)</li><li><b>Baghdad on edge</b> as curfew bites (<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk" target="_blank">BBC</a> | <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7321362.stm" target="_blank">Story</a>)</li><li><b>Poll finds a broad desire</b> to cooperate with Russia (<a href="http://iht.com/" target="_blank">IHT</a> | <a href="http://iht.com/articles/2008/03/27/europe/poll.php" target="_blank">Story</a>)</li></ul><p></p><h2>WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS</h2><p></p><ul><li><b>National heroes tour</b>- Marshall, MO tops KC for a royal welcome (<a href="http://www.blackfive.net/main/2008/03/national-hero-5.html" target="_blank">BF</a>)</li><li><b>In pictures:</b> A memorial ceremony at FOB Salerno, Afghanistan (<a href="http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/03/fallen_comrade_cerem.php" target="_blank">TLWJ</a>)</li><li><b>Hangin'</b> with the big dogs (<a href="http://www.spousebuzz.com/blog/2008/03/hangin-with-the.html" target="_blank">SBz</a>)</li><li><b>Statistics and facts</b> for newbies (and seasoned) milspouses (<a href="http://awtr.blogspot.com/2008/03/i-stumbled-upon-this-site-today-and.html" target="_blank">LASLTL</a>)</li></ul><p></p>
</div>
<div id="footer">
<a href="http://www.lists.army.mil/mailman/listinfo/stand-to">Subscribe to Stand-To!</a> | <a href="http://www.lists.army.mil/mailman/listinfo/stand-to">Unsubscribe to Stand-To!</a> | <a href="mailto:stand-to@smc.army.mil?subject=Feedback">Send Feedback</a> | <a href="http://www.army.mil/privacy/">Privacy & Security</a></div>
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div></body></html>